A significant belief in America, and probably in much of the world, holds that freedom means “I can do what I want, when I want, and to whom I want.” When you ponder this on its own merits, it sounds adolescent.
I once pondered the question of freedom from this dichotomy, “freedom from…” versus “freedom to…”
Then I discovered Paul’s letter to the Galatians which discusses the idea of freedom from the point of view of the Spirit. I wrote my first book on that topic (mired amongst some old files on a backup hard drive somewhere).
Two recent thoughts from the Plough Daily Dig:
What if freedom is the opportunity to do what’s right?
From philosopher King-Ho Leung.
For Sartre, as for Augustine, freedom is not about the kinds of options we have and make in life or even our very ability to choose what options to take. We do not become free because of the sheer number of alternatives we are given or because of the choices we make in life. Rather, freedom pertains to how one pursues meaning in life: it is not about what we are or what choices we make but how we make them and how we live our lives.
From David Foster-Wallace.
There are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talked about in the great outside world of wanting and achieving. The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people, and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day. That is real freedom.
Meditate on these important thoughts.
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